The Bibliothèque Marguerite Durand is a specialized public library run by the

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

municipal library system.

History

Created from a massive collection started in 1897 by journalist and activist Marguerite Durand. It was initially located at the premises of her newspaper La Fronde the Library opened in 1931 and moved to 79 rue Nationale in Paris. It holds a collection of materials on French feminism and the struggle of French

suffragette A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in particular to members ...

s for equality. The collection contains biographies, manuscripts, photographs, periodicals, letters, and more than 25,000 books dating back to the 17th century, plus 4,000 pieces of correspondence written by prominent women. Among the books and papers that can be found in the library are materials from women authors, artists, scientists, explorers, politicians, journalists and other notable women including

Madame de Staël Madame may refer to: * Madam, civility title or form of address for women, derived from the French * Madam (prostitution), a term for a woman who is engaged in the business of procuring prostitutes, usually the manager of a brothel * ''Madame'' ( ...

Colette Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (; 28 January 1873 – 3 August 1954), known mononymously as Colette, was a French author and woman of letters. She was also a mime, actress, and journalist. Colette is best known in the English-speaking world for her ...

, Marie Bashkirtseff, Séverine, Gyp,

Alexandra David-Néel Alexandra David-Néel (born Louise Eugénie Alexandrine Marie David; 24 October 1868 – 8 September 1969) was a Belgian–French explorer, spiritualist, Buddhist, anarchist, opera singer, and writer. She is most known for her 1924 visit to L ...

, Maria Deraismes,

Clémence Royer Clémence Royer (21 April 1830 – 6 February 1902) was a self-taught French scholar who lectured and wrote on economics, philosophy, science and feminism. She is best known for her controversial 1862 French translation of Charles Darwin's ...

, and Olympe de Gouges.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bibliotheque Marguerite Durand Public libraries in France Libraries in Paris Education in Paris